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Mustchin On Ravenhill Return

Matt Mustchin admits facing a rejuvenated Ulster side in Belfast on Friday (30 November, kick off 7.30pm) will be a tough test but he is still looking forward to going back to Ravenhill in Edinburgh colours.

Mustchin, who spent two seasons with the Irish Province, was reintroduced into the Edinburgh side on Sunday against Scarlets and responded with an efficient display in the second row as the club registered their first win since playing Ulster in September.

Now the 30-year-old versatile forward is aiming to help the men from The Castle chalk up their first away victory of the season at the home of his former employers.

Mustchin said: "It is a great place to play, especially in front of a full house " 13,000 will be there, so it will be good and I"m looking forward to going back.

"I know most of the Ulster boys. I was chatting to Paddy Wallace a couple of weeks ago and they have gone through some changes. A couple of the other boys have also texted me this week, so the banter has started already.

"Ulster have really turned the corner over the last couple of weeks. They won at Connacht at the weekend which is never an easy place to get a win and they have got some really good players.

"Paddy Wallace is playing really well and Paul Steinmetz is back and he is the key figure in their back-line. Their forwards are also starting to lay down a good foundation now."

The former New Zealand Under-19 international is also expecting a mixed reception from the vociferous Ravenhill crowd and forecasts fellow ex-Ulsterman Andrew Maxwell will receive similar treatment.

He said: "I think the crowd has always been good to me, so I think I"ll get a couple of cheers, but also maybe a couple of boos. They weren't too happy to see me leave, but that is part of professional rugby.

"I know Maxy (Maxwell) was a fans" favourite there because he scored some brilliant tries. So I"m sure both of us will get a nice round of applause by some sections of the crowd and possibly some boos as well."